TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NORTH KOREA

UNCLAS TOKYO 000552 SIPDIS STATE FOR I/RF, PA/PR/FPC/W, IIP/G/EA, EAP/PD, R/MR, EAP/J, EAP/P, PM; USTR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE; TREASURY FOR OASIA/IMI; SECDEF FOR OASD/PA; CP BUTLER OKINAWA FOR AREA FIELD OFFICE; PACOM HONOLULU FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KMDR KPAO JA SUBJECT: TOKYO MEDIA REACTION - NORTH KOREA ¶1. LEAD STORIES: Top stories on Thursday morning included Wednesday's meeting between the family of a Japanese abductee and a former North Korean agent who claims to have been taught Japanese by the abductee. ¶2. "Cruelty of North Korean Crimes Revealed" The liberal Asahi editorialized (3/12): "... Both the abductions and the KAL jet bombing took place under the division of the Korean Peninsula and the confrontation between North and South Korea. The abductions and the airliner bombing remind us of the cruelty of the crimes committed by North Korea, which is a peculiar totalitarian state... South Korea has many victims of the abductions. We hope that Japan and South Korea will promote their cooperation in resolving the abduction problem... North Korea has blocked the nuclear negotiation and is trying to carry out missile development programs by claiming that it is only planning to launch a satellite. North Korea's heinous crimes in the past and its provocative actions in the present should not be allowed." ¶3. "U.S., Japan, and South Korea Should Tighten 'Net' against North Korea" The business-oriented Nikkei argued in an editorial (3/12): "The meeting between the family of a Japanese abductee and the former North Korean agent was realized because both sides had hoped to meet and the governments of Japan and South Korea helped achieve their wishes. There are many victims of the abductions in South Korea. We hope Japan and South Korea will promote their coordination toward an early resolution of the abduction issue following the meeting. The abductions are not the only issue. Cooperation in resolving North Korea's nuclear and missile problems is also important... The U.S., Japan, and South Korea should work together to tighten their 'net' against North Korea to prevent Pyongyang from launching a missile." ZUMWALT